ORIGINAL: bunsen
Thank you kindly for the replies.
I am inclined towards the Balsa USA Stick 40 plus. Everything in the open. Looks to be simple, has ailerons and is about the right size and price is acceptable. Engine likely either an OS 25LA or a OS 35AX I would guess.
Appreciate the feedback.
Ray
ps; My first RC airplane was a 0.049 cox babe-bee powered DQA with single channel rubber band powered escapement, rudder only.... :-) Somewhere I still have the plans that were downloaded from a thread on RC Universe...
Bunsen, I have read all the replies down through hogflyer. I remember some years ago we at Jetero RC also raced them. Hogflyer pretty well knows what he is talking about.
Now for a sport and trainer I would select a good 25 to 35 and probably use a 9-4 to 10-4 wood prop. Low pitch does well in the air and makes landings much easier.
If you must overpower with a .40-.45, I strongly suggest an 11-4 or 5. I remember our 4-star racing days. 9-7 was the allowed prop. .40 engines. Most had trouble with landings. For sport change to an 11-4 or 5 and landings were a piece of cake.
I don't like fast overpowered trainers. One item that you may consider for your grandson and that is something that is NOT spoken about much. I don't know if the B-USA has strip or barn-door ailerons but here is a tip maybe you are well aware of any straight wing, non-competition acro, needs some washout. Either do washout the wing, OR raise the
barn-door ailerons about 3-5 degrees, OR
if strips, cut them off about 3" from the tip and glue those short strips on the back of the wing with about at least a 1/4 inch UP at the back.
This really does a lot to prevent tip stalls, wandering at low speed, take-off snaps. etc. Those things can always happen but some form of washout really helps to prevent them. Makes training a lot less, shall I say, "Uneventful".
